The provincial government is cutting funding for a youth program in Grey Bruce.
The public health unit has received notice the 300 thousand dollars for the Youth Action Alliance Program will be cancelled at the end of August.
The program was launched in 2005 to support youth development, prevent youth from smoking and to promote healthy living.
Medical Officer of Health Doctor Hazel Lynn tells Bayshore Broadcasting News the cutback is a huge loss for their communities.
She says they created activities for youth to get involved in — something that didn’t exist before in rural Ontario.
Doctor Lynn says the group was also very successful in promoting healthy activities and also made it cool to be smoke free in school.
One of the program’s successes is a website — www.targetyouth.ca — where students can learn about various health issues and activities.
The 300 thousand dollars in funding covered the cost for two full time youth advisors at the health unit as well as 20 part time youth positions.
Doctor Lynn says they will try to apply for different grants to recoup some of the money but she doesn’t know if it will be enough to sustain the present program.
Doctor Lynn notes they also had dozens of other students volunteer with the program to fill their required 40 hours to graduate high school.
Doctor Lynn fears students will again take up smoking if there are no prevention programs in schools.
Stats show 90 per cent of smokers start before the age of 18.
Doctor Lynn is holding out hope that the province will change its mind.
She says the youth will talk to local politicians to press the issue and she hopes local residents will do the same.